Illuminated push button switch relamping arrangement



s- 16, 1966 J- D. VINCENT 3,267,245

ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON SWITCH RELAMFING ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 24, 196% 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JAMES D. VINCENT A ORNE'Y:

Aug. 16, 1966 J. n. VINCENT ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON SWITCH RELAMPING ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 24, 1964 i5 Sheets-Sheec 2 1., R mm Em mm 3i vm mv D. m M a m ATTORNEY Aug. 16, 1966 J. D; VINCENT ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON SWITCH RELAMPING ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 24, 1964 Sheets-Sheet i1 I "Hill INVENTOR. JAMES DWNCENT I 8% MWWA A ORNEY 3,267,245 1C6 Patented August 16, 1966 3,267,245 ILLUMKNATED PUfiH BUTTON SWITCH RELAMRHNG ARRANGEMENT James D. Vincent, Freeport, Ill, assignor to Honeywell Ina, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 24, 1964-, Ser. No. 391,701 6 Claims. (Cl. 200167) This present invention is directed to a rel-amping arrangement for an illuminated push button switch device.

It is desirable in some applications of illuminated push button switch devices that the lamps be physically separate from and not be incorporated with the push button member so as not to be moved upon actuation of the push button member or to be subject to shock and vibration which such actuation may cause. By so doing, lamp life is increased. Further, it is often desirable that the lamps be serviceable from the front of the panel to which the devices are mounted. An arrangement which incorporates the foregoing features is disclosed in the W. T. Campe et al. Patent 2,924,692. However, it is also desirable that the lamps be capable of being removed from the devices manually and without the need of tools of any kind. The use of tools is often undesirable in that when servicing of the lamps is required, the necessary tool may not be available at the site or available at all thereby making for greater inconvenience. It will be appreciated that with the device of the Campe et a1. patent which is shown in the drawing a bit larger than actual size, the lamp can not be removed without the use of a tool.

The present invention is concerned with a relamping arrangement for an illuminated push button switch device wherein the lamps are supported in a lamp block secured in the housing of the device and which are not subject to movement or shock and vibration upon actuation of the push button member of the device and which can be serviced from the front of the panel wherein the device is mounted without the use of tools of any kind. Further, the relamping arrangement incorporates an assembly including the push button member and the lamp block which can be disposed into the housing after servicing and removed from the housing for servicing of the lamps with a straight line motion. Also the relamping arrangement is so constructed that upon disposal of the forementioned assembly into the housing after servicing of the lamps, actuation of the switches associated with the device does not arise. This is of course important in those applications where random switch actuation can not be tolerated as in computer inputs, firing systems, and the like.

More specifically, the housing, lamp block, and push button member of the relamping arrangement are associated together by utilization of two holding means. The lamp block and push button member are associated together by a first separable holding means to provide the assembly referred to above which is arranged to be disposed in that condition into the housing with a straight line motion whereupon a second holding means between the lamp block and the housing becomes effective to secure the lamp block in place with respect to the housing. Upon further force being applied to the push button member, the first holding means between the lamp block and the push button member becomes ineffective to allow the push button member to move with respect to the lamp block and to selectively actuate the switches associated with the device. It should be noted that by exercising a little care in making the first holding means ineffective, the push button member can be placed in condition to cause such actuation without in fact bringing such actuation about at that time. When servicing of the lamps is required, the push button member need only be moved outwardly with a straight line motion to make the first holding means between the lamp block and the push button member effective followed by a further movement outwardly to make the second holding means between the lamp block and the housing ineffective thereby allowing the assembly to be removed from the housmg.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rel-amping arrangement for an illuminated push button switch device wherein the lamps thereof are secured against movement or shock and vibration upon actuation of the device but are serviceable from the front of the panel wherein the device is mounted without the use of tools of any kind.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a relamping arrangement as just described wherein a lamp block supporting the lamps and the push button member of the device can be disposed into or removed from the device with a straight line motion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a relamping arrangement as above described wherein the lamp block can be disposed into the device after servicing the lamps without causing actuation of the switches associated with the device.

These and other objects will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims in connection with the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a housing with switches associated therewith, a lamp block and a push button member of an illuminated push button switch device incorporating an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is -a perspective view of the lamp block and push button member in an assembled condition;

FIGURE 3 is a partial end and sectional view of the housing with the lamp block in place;

FIGURE 4 is a partial front and sectional view of the housing with the lamp block in place and the push button member in a condition capable of actuating the switches associated with the housing;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a housing with switches associated therewith, a lamp block and a push button member of an illuminated push button switch device incorporating a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of the lamp block and push button member in an assembled condition;

FIGURE 7 is a partial front and sectional View of the housing with the lamp block in place;

FIGURE 8 is a partial end and sectional view of the housing with the lamp block in place and the push button member in a condition capable of actuating the switches associated with the housing;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a housing with switches associated therewith, a lamp block and a push button member of an illuminated push button switch device incorporating a third embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the lamp block and push button member in an assembled condition;

FIGURE 11 is a partial front and sectional view of the housing with the lamp block in place; and

FIGURE 12 is a partial and and sectional view of the housing with the lamp block in place and the push button member in a condition capable of actuating the switches associated with the housing.

In FIGURE 1, a housing 14 which may be formed of a thermoplastic or thermoset material is shOWn. The housing 14 includes a mounting flange 14a and a cavity 14b. Resilient contact or terminal means 16, one of which is shown, are secured in the base 14c of the hous ing 14. Notches 14d, one of which is shown, are provided in two opposite side walls of the housing 14. A pair of conventional mounting members 18, one of which is shown, are fastened to the housing 14 on opposite side walls thereof and are arranged to cooperate with the flange 14a to secure the housing 14 to a panel, not shown. At the lower extremity of the housing 14, a mounting clip 20 is provided which supports a switch module 22 of the type shown in the W. T. Campe et al. Patent 2,935,653.

Also shown in FIGURE 1 is a lamp block 24 which may be formed of a resilient insulating material. The lamp block 24 is arranged to support a pair of oppositely disposed flange base lamps 26, one of which is shown, by conventional means. On two opposite extremities of the lamp block 24, a resilient finger 24a and a cam surface 24b are provided. Grooves 240 are formed on either side of the resilient fingers 24a and cam surfaces 24b.

Further shown in FIGURE 1 is a push button member 28 comprised of a translucent or transparent viewing portion 30 appropriately secured to a hollow frame member 32 which may be formed of a resilient insulating material. Downwardly extending resilient arms 32a of frame member 32 each include an opening 32b and a protrusion 32c. Extending downwardly from a brace, not shown, in and from the center of the frame member 32 is a shouldered shaft 32d the lower portion of which supports a coil spring 34.

The lamp block 24 is shown in FIGURE 2 joined to the push button member 28 by a first holding or positioning means. Thus the resilient arms 32:: straddle the lamp block 24 and are disposed in the complementary grooves 240 with the resilient fingers 24a disposed through the openings 32b and protrusions 320, not shown in FIG- URE 2, engaging the cam surfaces 24b. It will be noted that the first holding means is comprised of two detent portions, these being resilient arms 32a with protrusions 32c and cam surfaces 24b.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that the shaft 32d is arranged to be disposed through a shouldered opening 24d in the lamp block 24 so that the coil spring 34 seats against the shoulder, not shown, to provide bias between the lamp block 24 and P sh button member 28 and so that the lower portion of the shaft 320! can pass through an opening, not shown, in the base 14c and be disposed proximate the actuating mechanism of the switch module 22.

In FIGURE 3, the combination of the lamp block 24 and the push button member 28 of FIGURE 2 has been disposed into the complementary cavity 1412 with an inward straight line motion and is associated with the housing 14 by a second holding or positioning means. Thus the resilient fingers 24a which were forced inwardly by the side walls of the cavity 14b upon introduction therein have snapped outwardly into and are biased against the upper surface of notches 14d because of the force provided by the resilient contacts 16 which engage the bases of lamps 26. It will be noted that the second holding means is comprised of detent portions including notches 14d, the resilient fingers 24a, and the resilient contacts 16. With the arrangement in the condition shown in FIG- URE 3, the lamp block 24 is secured in place with respect to the housing 14 by the second holding means and the push button member and specifically the resilient arms 32a remain joined to the lamp block 24 by the first holding means. This condition obtains because the detent force required in making the second holding means effective is less than that required to make the first holding means ineffective.

Upon further inward straight line movement of the combination, the first holding means becomes inefiective in that the resilient arms 23a and the protrusions 32c are forced outwardly from and past the cam surfaces 24b and ultimately the condition of FIGURE 4 obtains. With the arrangement in the condition shown in FIGURE 4, the lamp block 24 remains secured in place with respect to the housing 14 and the push button member and the associated shaft 32d is movable relative thereto and against the bias of the coil spring so as to allow actuation of the switches of the switch module 22. By exercising a degree of care in separating protrusions 320 from the 0am surfaces 24b, the switches of the switch module 22 can be kept from being actuated. Of course, subsequently the switches of the switch module 22 can be selectively actuated.

If the lamps 26 require servicing, it is merely necessary to pull the push button member 28 which in its normal position extends outwardly beyond the housing with a straight line motion whereupon initially the first holding means becomes effective to reestablish the combination of the lamp block 24 and the push button member in that the protrusions 320 are moved outwardly and are again associated with the cam portions 2411. At this point, the lamp block 24 is still secured to the housing 14 by the second holding means ineffective and allowing the comline movement of the push button member 28 results in the protrusions 32c forcing the resilient fingers 24a inwardly and out of the notches 14a. thereby making the second holding means ineffective and allowing the combination of the lamp block 24 and push button member 28 to be withdrawn from the housing 14. Of course to actually service the lamps 26, all that is necessary is to force the lamps 26 out of the lamp block 24 and introduce new lamps. When the servicing has been completed, the combination of the lamp block 24 and the push button member 28 need only be redisposed into the housing 14 and the sequence described with respect to FIGURES 3 and 4 again carried out.

The embodiment of FIGURES 5-8 while the same in a number of respects when compared to the embodiment of FIGURES l-4 also differs in a number of respects, all of which will become apparent below.

In FIGURE 5, a housing 34 includes an upper portion 36 which may be formed to a resilient metallic material and which is appropriately secured to a lower portion 38 which may be formed of an insulating material. The upper portion 36 includes mounting flanges 36a and a cavity 361;. Two oppositely disposed resilient contact or terminal means 40 which are shown in FIGURE 7 are secured in the lower portion 38. Bent inwardly out of the plane of a side wall of the upper portion 36 from which it is formed is a resilient arm 36c which includes an upper rounded portion 36d. A pair of conventional mounting members 42, one of which is shown, are fastened to the upper portion 36 on opposite side walls thereof and are arranged to cooperate with the flanges 36a to secure the housing 34 to a panel, not shown. At the lower extremity of the upper portion 36 and secured thereto is a mounting clip 43 which supports a switch module 44 of the type referred to previously.

Lamp block 46, also shown in FIGURE 5, which may be formed of a resilient insulating material is arranged to support a pair of oppositely disposed flange base lamps 48 by conventional means. In a groove 46a provided in the lamp block 46, a first cam surface 46b and an associated ledge 460 are provided. In two other opposite grooves 45d of the lamp block 46, second cam surfaces 46:: and associated ledges 46 are provided.

Still referring to FIGURE 5, a push button member 50 is comprised of a translucent or transparent viewing portion 52 which is carried by a frame member 54 which may be formed of a resilient metallic material. The frame member 54 includes downwardly extending resilient arms 54a which have lower rounded portions 54b. Extending downwardly from a brace 54:2, shown in FIG- URE 6, in and from the center of frame member 54 is a shaft 540 upon which a coil spring 56 is disposed.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the lamp block 46 is joined to the push button member 50' by a first holding or positioning means. Thus the shaft 54c is disposed through shouldered opening 46g of the lamp block 4'6 with the coil spring 56- seated in the shouldered opening 46g and an enlarged shaft extension 58 is secured to the lower end Olf the shaft 540. The coil spring 56 provides bias between the lamp block 46 and the push button member 50. The enlarged shaft 58 is arranged to pass through an opening 38a, shown in FIGURE 7, located in the lower portion 38 and to be disposed proximate the actuating mechanism of the switch module. Further, as to the first holding means, the resilient arms 54a straddle the lamp block 46 and are disposed in the complementary grooves 46d with the rounded portions 54b located just above the cam surfaces 466 and the ledges 46 It will be noted that with the elements of the first holding means in the position shown in FIGURE 6 relative movement between the lamp block 46 and the push button member 50 is limited in one direction because of the assembly thereof by means of the shaft extension 58 and in the other direction because the ledges 46 normally limit movement of the rounded portions 54b therepast.

In FIGURE 7, the combination of the lamp block 46 and the push button member 50 of FIGURE 6 has been disposed into the complementary cavity 3611 with an inward straight line motion and is associated with the housing 34 by a second holding or positioning means. Thus the cam surface 46b has forced the resilient arms 36c outwardly and has moved past the rounded portion 36d of the resilient arm 360. The rounded portion 36d is associated with the ledge 46c which is biased thereagainst because of the force provided by the resilient contacts 40 which engage the bases of lamps 48. With the arrange ment in the condition shown in FIGURE 7, the lamp block 46 is secured in place with respect to the housing 34- by the second holding means and remains in the condition shown in FIGURE 6 with respect to the push button 'member 50 because of the first holding means. As with the embodiment of FIGURES 1-4, this is because the detent force required in making the second holding means effective is less than that required to make the first holding means ineffective.

Upon further inward straight line movement of the combination, the first holding means becomes ineffective in that the resilient arms 54a and rounded portions 54b are forced outwardly from the ledges 46 and moved over the cam surfaces 46e so that the arrangement assumes the condition shown in FIGURE 8. Thu-s the lamp block 46 is secured in place with respect to the housing 34 by means of resilient arm 36c and the push button member, associated shaft, and shaft extension is movable relative to the housing 34 and lamp block 46 and against the bias of the coil spring so as to allow actuation of the switches of the switch module 44. Again the switches of the switch module 44 can be kept from being actuated during the disposal of the combination into the housing 34 by exercising a degree of care in making the first holding means ineffective.

To service the lamps 48 merely requires pulling the push button member 56 with a straight line motion whereupon initially the first holding means becomes etfective so as to reestablish the combination of the lamp block 46 and the push button member 50 in that the resilient arms 54a and the rounded portions 54b are forced outwardly and moved past the cam surfaces 46c and are once again disposed proximate the ledges 46 It should be noted that the detent force required to make the first holding means effective is less than that required to make the second holding means ineffective. Thus while the first holding means is again effective, the lamp block 46 is still secured to the housing 34 by the second holding means. However, further outward straight line movement of the push button member 50 results in the resilient arms 36c and rounded portions 36d to be forced outwardly away from ledges 460 so as to make the second holding means ineffective thereby allowing the combination of the lamp block 46 and the push button member 50 to be withdrawn from the housing 34 because of the interaction of the shaft extension 58 and lamp block 46. After servicing of the lamps has been completed, the combination of the lamp block 46 and the push button member 50 need only 6 be redisposed into the housing 34 in the manner set forth with respect to FIGURES 7 and 8.

The embodiments of FIGURES 9-l2 while basically the same as the embodiments of FIGURES 1-4 and 5-9 differ in some details which will be brought out below.

Housing 60 which may be formed of a thermoplastic or thermoset material is shown in FIGURE 9. The housing 60 includes a mounting flange 60a and a cavity 60b. Two oppositely disposed resilient contact or terminal means 62, one of which is shown, are secured in base 600 of the housing 60. Adjacent the base 600, a stop portion 60d is formed in a side wall of the housing 60. Mounting means, not shown, of the type disclosed in the copending I. R. Fitzsimmons application, Serial Number 389,447, filed August 13, 1964, assigned to the assignee of the present application, is arranged to cooperate with the flange 66a to secure the housing 60 to a panel, not shown. At the lower extremity of the housing 60 depending from and integrally formed with the base 600 is a mounting clip 60c which supports a switch module 64 of the type referred to with respect to FIGURE 1. The base 60c includes an opening 60 about which a number of spaced integral resilient fingers 60g are disposed.

FIGURE 9 also includes lamp block 66 which may be formed of a resilient insulating material and which is arranged to support a pair of oppositely disposed flange base lamps 68 by conventional means. Step portions 66a, one of which is shown, are located in grooves 661) which are disposed on opposite sides of the lamp block 66. Formed integral with and depending from the lamp block 66 is tubular portion 660 which includes an enlarged rib 66d near its lower extremity. The opening 66e in the lamp block 66 is shouldered but extends with a smaller diameter through the tubular member 66c.

A push button member 70 comprised of a translucent or transparent viewing portion 72 and carried by a hollow frame member 74 which may be formed of a resilient insulating material is included in FIGURE 9. The frame member 74 includes downwardly extending resilient arms 74a which have cam portions 741) and ledges 740 near the lower extremity thereof. Extending downwardly from a brace 74d in and from the center of frame member 74 is a shaft 74e upon which a coil spring 76 is disposed.

In FIGURE 10, the lamp block 66 is shown joined to the push button member 70 by a first holding or positioning means. Thus the shaft 742 is disposed through shouldered opening 66e of the lamp block 66 and the tubular portion 66c with the coil spring seated in the shouldered opening 66g. The coil spring provides bias between the lamp block 66 and the push button member 70. The shaft 74s is arranged, referring to FIGURE 9, to pass through the opening 60 and to be disposed proximate the actuating mechanism of the switch module 64. Further, as to the first holding means, the resilient arms 74a straddle the lamp block 66 and are disposed in the complementary grooves 66b with the step portions 66a disposed between the cam portions 74b and the ledges 74c to thereby severably join the lamp block 66 to the push button member 7 0.

FIGURE 11 shows the combination of the lamp block 66 and the push button member 70 of FIGURE 10 dis posed into the complementary cavity 60b and associated with the housing 60 by a second holding or positioning means. Thus the enlarged rib 66d has forced the resilient fingers 60g outwardly and has been positioned therebelow thereby limiting outward movement of the lamp block 66. The lamp block 66 is limited against further inward movement by the stop portion 60d. It will be appreciated that the resilient contacts 62 are merely to provide electrical connection to the lamps 68 and do not provide the additional bias function with respect to the lamp block 66 as was the case with the other embodiments. With the arrangement in the condition as shown in FIGURE 11, the lamp block 66 is secured in place 7 with respect to the housing 60 by the second holding means and remains in the condition shown in FIGURE 10 with respect to the push button member 70 because of the first holding means. As was the case with the other embodiments, this is because the detent force required in making the second holding means effective is less than that required to make the first holding means ineffective.

Upon further inward straight line movement of the combination, the first holding means becomes ineffective in that the resilient arms 74a are forced outwardly from the step portion 66a by the camming action of the cam portion 74b to allow the arrangement to assume the condition shown in FIGURE 12. Thus the lamp block 66 is secured in place with respect to the housing 66 by means of the stop portion and the resilient fingers and the push button member and the associated shaft is movable relative to the housing 60 and lamp block 66 and against the bias of the coil spring so as to allow actuation of the switches of the switch module 64. As with the other embodiments, the switch module 64 can be kept from being actuated during disposal of the combination into the housing 60 by exercising a degree of care in making the first holding means ineffective.

Servicing of lamps 68 is accomplished in the same general manner as set forth with respect to the other embodiments in that the push button member 70 is pulled outwardly with a straight line motion whereupon initially the first holding means becomes effective so as to reestablish the combination of the lamp block 66 and the push button member 70. This is brought about because the resilient arms 74a are forced outwardly by the camming action of the cam portions 74b against step portions 66a and ultimately the ledges 74c again engage the step portions 66a. It should again be noted that the detent force required to make the first holding means effective is less than that required to make the second holding means ineffective. Therefore, while the first holding means is again effective, the lamp block 66 is still secured to the housing 60 by the second holding means. However, further outward straight line movement of the push button member 70 results in the resilient fingers 60g being forced outwardly by the enlarged rib 66d so as to make the second holding means ineffective thereby allowing the combination of the lamp block 66 and the push button member 70 to be withdrawn from the housing 60. To redispose the combination into the housing 60 after servicing the lamps has been completed, the procedure set forth with respect to FIGURES 11 and 12 is repeated.

It should be noted that in each of the embodiments only a single electrical connection has been made to each lamp. This was done to simplify the drawings and a second connection to the lamps can be provided in a conventional manner.

The relamping arrangement as set forth in the embodiments above provides for the lamps to be secure in the housing and therefore not subject to be moved upon actuation of the push button member or to shock and vibration caused thereby. Further, the relamping arrangement as set forth in the embodiments is serviceable from the front of the panel wherein the device is mounted by means of a simple straight line motion being applied to the push button member. Such a relamping arrangement requires no tools and a minimum of loose parts is involved in the servicing of the lamps. Finally, the relamping arrangement as disclosed does not give rise to actuation of the device upon the redisposal of the combination into the housing.

Of course, many modifications are possible and therefore the scope of the present invention should be determined from the following claims.

I claim:

1. A relamping arrangement for an illuminated, push button operated electrical switch device comprising: a housing having a switch mechanism associated therewith; a lamp block; and an illuminable push button member; said lamp block severably joined to said member by first positioning means including a pair of oppositely disposed resilient arms depending from said member and a pair of cam surfaces provided on said lamp block associated with said first arms, the combination of said lamp block and said member being disposable into and removable from said housing; second positioning means between said housing and said lamp block including a pair of openings in the side walls of said housing, resilient contact means for the lamps of said lamp block supported within said housing and a pair of resilient fingers on said lamp block associated with said openings; upon disposing said combination into said housing an initial amount said second positioning means becoming effective whereby said fingers enter said openings to thereby and together with the bias provided by said contact means maintain said lamp block in place with respect to said housing; upon further inward force being applied to said combination said first positioning means becoming ineffective whereby said arms are driven over said cam surfaces to allow said member to be moved relative to said housing and said lamp block to permit actuation of the switch mechanism associated with said housing; upon removal of said member from said housing an initial amount said first positioning means becoming effective whereby said arms are again associated with said cam surfaces and said combination being reestablished; upon further outward force being applied to said combination said sec-0nd positioning means becoming ineffective whereby said fingers are forced out of said openings to allow said combination to be removed from said housing.

2. A relamping arrangement for an illuminated, push button operated electrical switch device comprising: a housing having a switch mechanism associated therewith; a lamp block; and an illuminable push button member; said lamp block severably joined to said member by first positioning means including a pair of oppositely disposed resilient arms depending from said member and a pair of cam surfaces on said lamp block associated with said arms, the combination of said lamp block and said member being disposable into and removable from said housing; second positioning means between said housing and said lamp block including first detent portions in said housing, resilient contact means for the lamps of said lamp block supported within said housing, and second detent portions on said lamp block associated with said first detent portions; upon disposing said combination into said housing an initial amount said second positioning means becoming effective whereby said detent portions engage to thereby and together with the bias provided by said contact means maintain said lamp block in place with respect to said housing; upon further inward force being applied to said combination said first positioning means becoming ineffective whereby said arms are driven over said cam surfaces to allow said member to be moved relative to said housing and said lamp block to permit actuation of the switch mechanism associated with said housing; upon removal of said member from said housing an initial amount said first positioning means becoming effective whereby said arms are again associated with said cam surfaces and said combination being reestablished; upon further outward force being applied to said combination said sec-0nd positioning means becoming ineffective whereby said detent portions are disengaged to allow said combination to be removed from said housing.

3. A relamping arrangement for an illuminated, push button operated electrical switch device comprising: a housing having a switch mechanism associated therewith; a lamp block; and an illuminable push button member; said lamp block severably joined to said member by first positioning means including a first detent portion on said member and a second detent portion on said lamp block for engagement with said first detent portion, the combination of said lamp block and said memher being disposable into and removable from said housing; second positioning means between said housing and said lamp block including a third detent portion in said housing, resilient means supported within said housing and a fourth detent portion on said lamp block associated with said third detent portion; upon disposing said combination into said housing an initial amount said second positioning means becoming efiect-ive whereby said third and fourth detent portions engage to thereby and together with the bias provided by said resilient means maintain said lamp block in place with respect to said housing; upon further inward force being applied to said combination said first positioning means becoming ineffective whereby said first and second detent portions are disengaged to allow said member to be moved relative to said housing and said lamp block to permit actuation of the switch mechanism associated with said housing; upon removal of said member from said housing an initial amount said first positioning means becoming effective whereby said first and second detent portions are again engaged and said combination being reestablished; upon further outward force being applied to said combination said second positioning means becoming ineffective whereby said third and fourth detent portions are disengaged to allow said combination to be removed from said housing.

4. A relamping arrangement for an illuminated, push button operated electrical switch device comprising: a housing having a switch mechanism associated therewith; a lamp block; and an illuminable push button member; said lamp block associated with said member by first positioning means between and including engageable elements on said member and said lamp block, the combination of said lamp block and said member being disposable into and removable from said housing; second positioning means between said housing and said lamp block including resilient means supported within said housing; upon disposing said combination into said housing an initial amount said second positioning means becoming eifective to thereby and together with the bias provided by said resilient means maintain said lamp block in place with respect to said housing; upon further inward force being applied to said combination the elements of said first positioning means becoming disengaged to allow said member to be moved relative to said housing and said lamp block to permit actuation of the switch mechanism associated with said housing; upon removal of said member from said housing an initial amount said first positioning means becoming effective and said combination being reestablished; upon further outward force being applied to said combination said second positioning means becoming inefiective to allow said combination to be removed from said housing.

5. A relamping arrangement for an illuminated push button operated electrical switch device comprising: a housing having a switch mechanism associated therewith; a lamp block; and an illuminable push button member; said lamp block associated with said member by first holding means including engageable elements on said lamp block and said member, the combination of said lamp block and said member disposable into and removable from said housing; upon disposing said combination into said housing an initial amount second holding means between said housing and said lamp block becoming effective whereby said lamp block is maintained in place with respect to said housing by said second holding means; upon further inward force being applied to said combination the elements of said first holding means becoming disengaged and said member thereupon being moved relative to said housing and said lamp block to permit actuation of the switch mechanism associated with said housing; upon removal of said member from said housing an initial amount said first holding means becoming effective and said combination being reestablished; upon further outward force being applied to said combination said second holding means becoming ineflective whereby said combination can be removed from said housing.

6. A relamping arrangement for an illuminated push button operated electrical switch device comprising: a housing having a switch mechanism associated therewith; a lamp block; and an illuminable push button member; said lamp block and said member associated together by first holding means including engageable elements on said lamp block and said member, the combination of said lamp block and said member disposable into and removable from said housing; upon disposing said combination into said housing an initial amount second holding means between said housing and said lamp block becoming effective whereby said lamp block is maintained in place with respect to said housing by said second holding means; upon further inward force being applied to said combination the elements of said first holding means becoming disengaged and said member thereupon being moved relative to said housing and said lamp block to permit actuation of the switch mechanism associated with said housing; upon removal of said member from said housing said second holding means becoming ineffective whereby said combination can be removed from said housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1964 Roeser 200167 7/1965 Anderson et a1 200-167 

6. A RELAMPING ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON OPERATED ELECTRICAL SWITCH DEVICE COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING A SWITCH MECHANISM ASSOCIATED THEREWITH; A LAMP BLOCK; AND AN ILLUMINABLE PUSH BUTTON MEMBER; SAID LAMP BLOCK AND SAID MEMBER ASSOCIATED TOGETHER BY FIRST HOLDING MEANS INCLUDING ENGAGEABLE ELEMENTS ON SAID LAMP BLOCK AND SAID MEMBER, THE COMBINATION OF SAID LAMP BLOCK AND SAID MEMBER DISPOSABLE INTO AND REMOVABLE FROM SAID HOUSING; UPON DISPOSING SAID COMBINATION INTO SAID HOUSING AN INITIAL AMOUNT SECOND HOLDING MEANS BETWEEN SAID HOUSING AND SAID LAMP BLOCK BECOMING EFFECTIVE WHEREBY SAID LAMP BLOCK IS MAINTAINED IN PLACE WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING BY SAID SECOND HOLDING MEANS; UPON FURTHER INWARD FORCE BEING APPLIED TO SAID COMBINATION THE ELEMENTS OF SAID FIRST HOLDING MEANS BECOMING DISENGAGED AND SAID MEMBER THEREUPON BEING MOVED RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING AND SAID LAMP BLOCK TO PERMIT ACTUATION OF THE SWITCH MECHANISM ASSOCIATED 